Electrical/mechanical representation of instruments and space


Help, I'm stuck at the juncture of physics, mechanics, electricity, psycho-acoustics, and the magic of music.

I understand that the distinctive sound of a note played by an instrument consists of a fundamental frequency plus a particular combination of overtones in varying amplitudes and the combination can be graphed as a particular, nuanced  two-dimensional waveform shape.  Then you add a second instrument playing, say, a third above the note of the other instrument, and it's unique waveform shape represents that instrument's sound.  When I'm in the room with both instruments, I hear two instruments because my ear (rather two ears, separated by the width of my head) can discern that there are two sound sources.  But let's think about recording those sounds with a single microphone.  The microphone's diaphragm moves and converts changes in air pressure to an electrical signal.  The microphone is hearing a single set of air pressure changes, consisting of a single, combined wave from both instruments.  And the air pressure changes occur in two domains, frequency and amplitude (sure, it's a very complicated interaction, but still capable of being graphed in two dimensions). Now we record the sound, converting it to electrical energy, stored in some analog or digital format.  Next, we play it back, converting the stored information to electrical and then mechanical energy, manipulating the air pressure in my listening room (let's play it in mono from a single full-range speaker for simplicity).  How can a single waveform, emanating from a single point source, convey the sound of two instruments, maybe even in a convincing 3D space?  The speaker conveys amplitude and frequency only, right?  So, what is it about amplitude or frequency that carries spatial information for two instruments/sound sources?  And of course, that is the simplest example I can design.  How does a single mechanical system, transmitting only variations in amplitude and frequency, convey an entire orchestra and choir as separate sound sources, each with it's unique tonal character?  And then add to that the waveforms of reflected sounds that create a sense of space and position for each of the many sound sources?

77jovian

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

The poor guy asked how we're able to reproduce the sound of an original performance so well that we're able to hear not only the original performers in their original locations but the room acoustics as well. That was the question, right?

Why then are we off onto electrons and RFI?

The chief offender loves to misquote Richard Feynman, who once actually did say not being able to explain something in simple terms means you really don't understand it yourself.

Of course before answering any question it always helps to know just what the question is. So how about it? Maybe rethink your question, figure out what exactly it is you really want to know, and then ask it. Soon. Before the loon gets us off into morphic fields and space travel.
77jovian commits an all too common flaw in logic which since no one studied logic no one caught. Except me, of course.

Hint: "two ears"-
When I'm in the room with both instruments, I hear two instruments because my ear (rather two ears, separated by the width of my head)

Two ears. Got it?

Then, inexplicably:
But let's think about recording those sounds with a single microphone.

Wait- what?!?! 

Need I say more? Really?

Yeah, yeah. I could answer the one mic question too. But fix the first one first, okay?